Chris & Julie Petersen's Genealogy

Edmund Wells

Male 1792 - 1882  (90 years)


Personal Information    |    Notes    |    All    |    PDF

  • Name Edmund Wells 
    Born 26 Mar 1792  Cambridge, Washington, New York, United States Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Gender Male 
    Died 22 Jul 1882  Harmony, Chautauqua, New York, United States Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Buried Magnolia Cemetery, Mayville, Chautauqua, New York, United States Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Person ID I3360  Petersen-de Lanskoy
    Last Modified 27 May 2021 

    Father Edmund Henry Wells,   c. 1 Apr 1771, Hebron, Tolland, Connecticut, United States Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 2 Apr 1813, Cambridge, Washington, New York, United States Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age ~ 42 years) 
    Mother Hepzibah Buell,   b. Abt 1771, of Hebron, Tolland, Connecticut, United States Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 13 Dec 1819, Cambridge, Washington, New York, United States Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age ~ 48 years) 
    Married Abt 1791  Cambridge, Washington, New York, United States Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Family ID F305  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

    Family Jane Cooper,   b. 18 Aug 1793, Cambridge, Washington, New York, United States Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 25 Jan 1885, Mayville, Chautauqua, New York, United States Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 91 years) 
    Married 27 Sep 1814  Cambridge, Washington, New York, United States Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Last Modified 28 May 2021 
    Family ID F1742  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  • Notes 
    • RESEARCH_NOTES:
      1. Per Ancestry.com: database "1663942"; 13 Apr. 2002, contact .

      2. Correspondent Marsha Markham per 30 Sep 2002 email offers the following as children of this individual: "I'll have to reopen my files and check what the references are...I know they are valid...much has come down through a family historian but there are also references from some books. I am missing the page that has Edmund and Jane so cannot tell you the date of their oldest child's birth. I saw your entry on rootsweb.com and can add a bit more information for you. Edmund Henry Wells did not marry Ann Cooper on the 27th of Sept 1814 because he died of spotted fever on 2 Apr of 1813. I'm thinking this may be his son Edmund. He married Jane Cooper (daughter of John Cooper). Here is a listing of Edmund Henry Wells and Hepzibah Buel's children.
      a. Edmund, b. 26 Mar 1792, Cambridge, Washington, NY. wed Jane Cooper (this is my ancestor...just so you know). [Correspondent Marsha Markham per 5 Oct 2002 email says: "The following book mentions that Edmunds's second wife was Ann or Abiah Cooper, dau. of John Cooper and that he married her 27 Sep 1814 at the Presbyterian Church in Cambridge." She also says that his father Edmund was not the one who married Anne Cooper on the same date because he died of spotted fever on 2 Apr 1813. She references the book "New York Scotch-Irish Cooper and Allied Families' Histories" by Russ Cooper, 1755 Derbyshire Rd., Cleveland, OH 44106.
      b. Wealthy Ann, b. 25 Jan 1794, Cambridge. m. Samuel Cooper (b. 19 Sep 1791, d. 27 Mar 1839, Burton, Adams, IL). Wealthy d. 23 Mar 1865, Buckeye, Yolo, Ca.
      c. James...occupation was a shoemaker. He died at Harmony, Chautauqua, NY. He was wed to Clorinda Griffin.
      d. Priscilla, d. at Busti, Chautauqua, NY...wed to a Mr. Dickinson.
      e. Elizabeth, d. Chautauqua, NY...wed to Lewis Berry.
      f. Sidney, d. in Ca...wed to Sylvia FairChild (d/o James FairChild.) 2nd wife was Hannah Morrison
      g. Solomon, b. 18 Sep 1811, Cambridge, Washington, NY. d. Quincey, IL...wed to Mary Ann Dunlap (d/o Rev. James Dunlap)
      h. Harriet, d. Harmony, Chautauqua, NY. Was wed to a Mr. Slayton.

      3. FHL book 929.273 W462C "History and Genealogy of the Wells Family," compiled by John L. Cobb, 1999, supplementing "The History and Genealogy of the Wells Family" by Philip L. Cobb, 1897. Pp. 71-72, references given as: I.G.I. NY state: Wells, as of Apr 1988 and Mar 1992, CT: Wells et al.: 'Cem. Inscrip. from Cambridge, NY,' copied by P.L. and L.B. Cobb 1913; Wash Co., NY deeds: CC: 13, 30 Aug. 1830, rec. 31 Aug 1831; Asa Fitch's Notes for a Wash Co., NY Hist.: re Wells: 839; Administration: Edmund Henry Wells of Cambridge, NY: 2 Jan 1815, by wid. Hepzibah: 2: 67; 'American Genealogist'; vol. 46, July 1970: 181-2: 'The Wells Fam. of Hebron, CT, and Cambridge, NY' by John G. Hunt, 821 No. Jackson St., Arlington, VA 22201 (Capt. Wm. C. Ball, USN (ret.) of Anaheim, CA. Text:
      "Edmund Henry Wells, son of Edmund and Welthia Ann (Goodrich) W. of Cambridge, NY, born about 1770, probably in Hebron, CT; he married (1791), to Hepzipah Buel, daughter of Ichabod and Hepzibah (Dewey) B. of Hebron, CT, born about 1771, she received into communion of the Prot. Presby. Church of Cambridge, NY, 17 Oct. 1809; family resided in Cambridge, NY, where he died 2 Apr 1813 in 42nd year, of 'spotted fever' or 'the epidemic'; she died 15 Dec 1819 in 48th year, and both buried in the cemetery on the Turnpike, south of the village of Cambridge, Wash. Co., NY. Children all born Cambridge, Wash. Co, NY, order undetermined:
      a. Edmund, b. 26 Mar 1792, at Cambridge, NY, bapt. 8 Sept 1792 at the Prot. Presby. Church, Cambridge; m. 1st (?) ____ to ?Louisa Livingston, dau. of William and ___ L. of Cambridge, NY, 1808-1839; he m. 2nd (?), 27 Sep 1814 at Prot. Presby. Church, Cambridge, by Rev. John Dunlap, to Ann or Abiah Cooper, dau. of John and ___ C.; Edmund was a wagon master, constable in White Creek, NY (1850 Cen.); fam. res. removed to Harmony, Chautauqua Co., NY. Children (7 reported): Henry (b. guess ca. 1830; d. before 30 Jan 1850, Quincy, IL [?]), John, Harriet, George, Amy, unknown, and unknown.
      b. Wealthy Ann, b. 25 Jan 1794, bapt. 13 Apr 1794 Prot. Presby Church, Cambridge, rec'd into comm. there ___ 1813 by Rev. John Dunlap; she m. 1 May 1815 at Cambridge, to Samuel Cooper, s. of John and ___C. of Eagle Bridge (on Hoosic River), White Cr., NY; b. ___; fam. rem. with brother Edmund W. to Chautaugua Co., NY and later, 1848, Burton (E. of Quincy), Adams Co., IL, where he died of fever. Several children Cooper: W.B., b. ___; in 1847 at Saltillo, Mexico, having enl. 1846 in Adams Co., IL (letter: 1847 to Uncle James about Texas and Mexico).
      c. James, b. ___; shoemaker, m. ___: to ___, fam. moved to Harmony, Chautauqua Co., NY where he died, children 2-3 reported.
      d. Pamilla, Priscella (?), b. ___; m. 17 June 1803? to ___Dickeson, Dickinson? Fam. rem. Busti, Chautq. Co., NY, children 3-4 reported.
      e. Elizabeth, b. ___; m. ____; to ___; to Ransom Curtis of Busti, NY, fam. res. Ashville, Chautq. Co., NY, children 2-3 reported.
      f. Sidney, b. ca. 1810; m. 7 Apr 1835 at 2nd Ref. Dutch Ch., Albany, NY to Mrs. Sarah Thayer; res. with Austin Wells many years, then with Edmund Wells, then at Albany, NY and died ca. 1849 in CA, children 2 boys reported.
      g. Solomon, b. 18 Sep 1811, bapt. 4 Nov 1811 Prot. Presby. Church, Cambridge; m. ____ to ____, res. Chautq. Co., NY then MauChunk, PA; he died Quincy, IL. Children 3-4 reported.
      h. Miriam Henry, b. 18 Sep 1811 (twin of above); bapt. 4 Nov 1811 Prot. Presby. Church, Cambridge,; apparently died young.
      i. Harriet, b. ___; m. ___; to William Slayton of Harmony, Chautq. Co., NY fam. res. Harmony, NY, children Slayton."

      4. TAG 46:180-183: "The Wells (Welles) Family of Hebron, CT. and Cambridge, N.Y.," by John G. Hunt:
      "...Edmund Henry4 Wells, born about 1771, died at Cambridge, N.Y., "of the spotted fever" in 1813; by his wife, who was also his kinswoman, Hepzibah (daughter of that Ichabod Buell named at p. 131 of cited Bradford Genealogy), he left these Wells Children:
      i. Edmund5, b. Ca. 1791, Cambridge, N.Y.; living 1850 at Harmony, Chautauqua County, N.Y.; had issue.
      ii. Wealthy, m. John Cooper and was living 1848 at Burton, Ill. Their son, W. B. Cooper, was in 1847 at Saltillo, Mexico, having been enlisted in Adams County, Ill., in the preceding year. He gives his impressions of Texas and part of Mexico in a letter dated in 1847, addressed to his uncle, James5 Wells, whose descendant, Capt. William C. Ball, USN (ret.), of Anaheim, Call has made the information available.
      iii. James, in 1850 of Harmony, N.Y.; had issue.
      iv. Priscilla, m. ___ Dickinson of Busti, Chautauqua County, N.Y.; had issue.
      v. Elizabeth, m. Ransom Curtis of Busti; had issue
      vi. Sidney, d. in California, leaving two sons in Albany, N.Y.
      vii. Solomon, d. at Quincy, Ill., leaving issue.
      viii. Harriet, m. William Slayton of Harmony; issue."

      5. Antislavery activists per website http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~nychauta/HISTORY/Shepard2013-UGRRMapNotes.pdf accessed 5 Nov 2016:
      "Ed Wells: This is probably Edward (usually given as Edmond) Wells, a wagon-maker. He was born in Washington NY in 1792. He and his wife, Jane, can be found in Harmony NY from 1819 onward. The 1870 Census of Harmony lists Jane living in the family of a son (?) Lewis Wells, but the 1875 Census lists him (age 86) and wife Jane (age 82) at the home of son George. Edward was still listed as a farmer and wagon maker. Young's History, p. 434, located him on Lot 7 in Harmony in 1826, adding that he "is said to be the only early settler living on the road between Mayville and Jamestown on this side of the lake." The 1854 map located the home and the wagon shop on Lot 7-2-15. The assessment rolls for 1857-1863 record George Wells with 82
      acres in the northeast part of Lot 7 in (North) Harmony. Young also notes that "George lives on the homestead with his father." His UGRR affiliation is cited in Gourdey, Erma, et al, Busti Centennial Booklet, 1923."

      MARRIAGE:
      1. There appears to be some puzzle as to who Edmund Well's wives were. The first correspondent below reports Jane Cooper was the first followed possibly by Ann or Abiah Cooper. This correspondent notes that she is a descendant of the marriage of Edmund and Jane. The second correspondent below believes Louisa Livingston to be the first wife but tempers this with a question mark; the second wife is also listed as Ann or Abiah Cooper. In reviewing the records for the "Old Turnpike Cemetery" in the book "Cemetery Records, the Town of Cambridge, Washington Co., NY," (2003, comp. by Historical Data Services, 14 Clark St., Glen Falls, NY, 12804, www.hdsgenealogy.com, copy available in the Cambridge public library with over 50 Wells listed), I find the original Edmund, his son Edmund and his wife Wealthy, his son Edmund and his wife Hepzibah, and then a fourth Edmund listed as: Edmund Wells, d. 7 May 1823, Sec. C, Row 13, in his 36th y, m. Abiah ___." Also listed in the same cemetery is Abiah Wells, d. 29 Oct 1840, Sec. C, Row 13 in her 31st y, wife of Edmond." There is no Louisa or Jane Wells in that record. This would seem to indicate that the Edmond who died in 1823 married to Abiah [Cooper or a different Abiah?] would not be the same Edmond who survived until at least 1850 per the notes of the second correspondent below. It appears sure that there was an Ann or Abiah Cooper, dau. of John Cooper who married a Edmund Wells from the detail given as to date, place, and minister in the second correspondent's note - the only question is which one? There may have been other Edmunds in the Cambridge area that may solve the puzzle because the original Edmund (1726-1805) had a brother, Joseph, who came to Cambridge with him; this Joseph had local progeny including a son Edmund - and there may have been other Edmunds afterwards as well.
      Things to sort out include did Ann or Abiah Cooper really die in Cambridge area in 1840 or did she accompany the Edmund who went to Harmony, New York by 1850 [check census]. Also check the book "New York Scotch-Irish Cooper and Allied Families' Histories" by Russ Cooper, 1755 Derbyshire Rd., Cleveland, OH 44106.
      The correspondents:
      A. Correspondent Marsha Markham per 30 Sep 2002 email offers the following as children of this individual: "I'll have to reopen my files and check what the references are...I know they are valid...much has come down through a family historian but there are also references from some books. I am missing the page that has Edmund and Jane so cannot tell you the date of their oldest child's birth. I saw your entry on rootsweb.com and can add a bit more information for you. Edmund Henry Wells did not marry Ann Cooper on the 27th of Sept 1814 because he died of spotted fever on 2 Apr of 1813. I'm thinking this may be his son Edmund. He married Jane Cooper (daughter of John Cooper). Here is a listing of Edmund Henry Wells and Hepzibah Buel's children [I only list Edmund since this note deals with his marriages. See father's file for full listing of other children].
      a. Edmund, b. 26 Mar 1792, Cambridge, Washington, NY. wed Jane Cooper (this is my ancestor...just so you know). [Correspondent Marsha Markham per 5 Oct 2002 email says: "The following book mentions that Edmunds's second wife was Ann or Abiah Cooper, dau. of John Cooper and that he married her 27 Sep 1814 at the Presbyterian Church in Cambridge." She also says that his father Edmund was not the one who married Anne Cooper on the same date because he died of spotted fever on 2 Apr 1813. She references the book "New York Scotch-Irish Cooper and Allied Families' Histories" by Russ Cooper, 1755 Derbyshire Rd., Cleveland, OH 44106.]
      B. FHL book 929.273 W462C "History and Genealogy of the Wells Family," compiled by John L. Cobb, 1999, supplementing "The History and Genealogy of the Wells Family" by Philip L. Cobb, 1897. Pp. 71-72, references given as: I.G.I. NY state: Wells, as of Apr 1988 and Mar 1992, CT: Wells et al.: 'Cem. Inscrip. from Cambridge, NY,' copied by P.L. and L.B. Cobb 1913; Wash Co., NY deeds: CC: 13, 30 Aug. 1830, rec. 31 Aug 1831; Asa Fitch's Notes for a Wash Co., NY Hist.: re Wells: 839; Administration: Edmund Henry Wells of Cambridge, NY: 2 Jan 1815, by wid. Hepzibah: 2: 67; 'American Genealogist'; vol. 46, July 1970: 181-2: 'The Wells Fam. of Hebron, CT, and Cambridge, NY' by John G. Hunt, 821 No. Jackson St., Arlington, VA 22201 (Capt. Wm. C. Ball, USN (ret.) of Anaheim, CA. Text: "Edmund Henry Wells, son of Edmund and Welthia Ann (Goodrich) W. of Cambridge, NY, born about 1770, probably in Hebron, CT; he married (1791), to Hepzipah Buel, daughter of Ichabod and Hepzibah (Dewey) B. of Hebron, CT, born about 1771, she received into communion of the Prot. Presby. Church of Cambridge, NY, 17 Oct. 1809; family resided in Cambridge, NY, where he died 2 Apr 1813 in 42nd year, of 'spotted fever' or 'the epidemic'; she died 15 Dec 1819 in 48th year, and both buried in the cemetery on the Turnpike, south of the village of Cambridge, Wash. Co., NY. Children all born Cambridge, Wash. Co, NY, order undetermined:
      a. Edmund, b. 26 Mar 1792, at Cambridge, NY, bapt. 8 Sept 1792 at the Prot. Presby. Church, Cambridge; m. 1st (?) ____ to ?Louisa Livingston, dau. of William and ___ L. of Cambridge, NY, 1808-1839; he m. 2nd (?), 27 Sep 1814 at Prot. Presby. Church, Cambridge, by Rev. John Dunlap, to Ann or Abiah Cooper, dau. of John and ___ C.; Edmund was a wagon master, constable in White Creek, NY (1850 Cen.); fam. res. removed to Harmony, Chautauqua Co., NY. Children (7 reported): Henry (b. guess ca. 1830; d. before 30 Jan 1850, Quincy, IL [?]), John, Harriet, George, Amy, unknown, and unknown.

      2. Per citation above: "Edmund, b. 26 Mar 1792, at Cambridge, NY, bapt. 8 Sept 1792 at the Prot. Presby. Church, Cambridge; m. 1st (?) ____ to ?Louisa Livingston, dau. of William and ___ L. of Cambridge, NY, 1808-1839; he m. 2nd (?), 27 Sep 1814 at Prot. Presby. Church, Cambridge, by Rev. John Dunlap, to Ann or Abiah Cooper, dau. of John and ___ C..."

      3. Ann is a sibling to Samuel Cooper who married Edmund's sister Wealthy Wells.

      4. Correspondent Marsha Markham per 30 Sep 2002 email offers the following as children of this individual: "There is a New York Scotch-Irish Cooper & Allied Families' Histories. Address is Russ Cooper 1755 Derbyshire Rd., Cleveland, Oh 44106... He goes on to say that about 20 Cooper families were in the Sterling, Cayuga, NY area for a long time..." She also says according to the same book: "Welthy Ann (Edmund's sister) married Samuel Cooper, son of John of Eagle Bridge (on Hoosic River), White Creek, NY and that Samuel's wife Wealthy Ann Wells' brother Edmunds's second wife was Ann or Abiah Cooper, dau. of John Cooper and that he married her 27 Sep 1814 at the Presbyterian Church in Cambridge. Edmund's first wife was Jane Cooper."

      DEATH:
      1 From Find A Grave http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=91275647 accessed 5 ov 2016:
      "Mrs. Miriam H. Slayton died at her residence in Harmony on Saturday evening July 22nd at 7:00 aged 72 years. Her brother, Mr. Edmund Wells, who lived near died early Sunday morning aged 91 years. He was the oldest, she the youngest of a family of nine. - handwritten note in E. A. (Wells) Ball scrapbook."

      ACTION:
      1. See above for marriage dilemma. Some things to sort out include did Ann or Abiah Cooper really die in Cambridge area in 1840 or did she accompany the Edmund who went to Harmony, New York by 1850 [check census]. Also check the book "New York Scotch-Irish Cooper and Allied Families' Histories" by Russ Cooper, 1755 Derbyshire Rd., Cleveland, OH 44106. See above note concerning this problem. In the 1850 census, try White Creek, NY, near Harmony as well.